goading

[ goh-ding ]

noun

1. the act of pricking, prodding, driving, or inciting with or as if with a goad:

   After a little goading from the crowd, he grabbed another habanero pepper and ate the whole darn thing.

adjective

1. pricking or prodding with or as if with a goad; driving or inciting:

   It's precisely this unstable combination of insecurity and superiority that generates a goading need to prove oneself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of goading¹

First recorded in 1540–50; goad ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun; goad ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

Tyson had refused to engage with Paul's goading for much of fight week, but slapped his opponent across the face, prompting security and team members to rush in to separate the fighters.

From BBC

He was jailed in August when he threw metal fencing and a can of beer at police after goading officers during rioting in Sunderland on 2 August.

From BBC

What role could another brash billionaire, Elon Musk, play in a Trump administration – after his summer of goading the Labour government on X?

From BBC

“She would cross the road to bite your ankles, whether you were goading her or not!”

From BBC

They were each posted with goading and threats to the Ukrainian public, including claims that all vehicles were legitimate targets and that people should minimise their public movement.

From BBC

Related Words

• challenging
• disturbing
• exciting
• inspirational
• insulting
• offensive
• outrageous